Jar-closure.



E. W. PEARCE. JAR CLOSURE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 14. 1908.

Patented Sept.28, 1909.

Ziweaea: Ivz/ek/Z'anlZwooaZ age/area gm/MM UNITE STATES PATET FFICTELWOOD W. PEARCE, OF EAST MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

JAR-CLOSURE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELwooD W. PEARCE, a citizen of the United States,and resident of East Milton, in the county of Suffolk and State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Jar-Closures, of whichthe following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings,is a specification, like figures 011 the drawings representing likeparts.

My invention relates to the closing mech anism of a fruit jar or can ora similar pack age, and has for its object the provision of a more orless springy or yielding joint at the neck of the can, bottle, or otherpackage.

The details of my invention and various advantages thereof will bepointed out at length in the course of the following de scription, takenwith reference to the accompanying drawings, in which I have shown apreferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 show the top portion of the jar in sideelevation, viewed at right angles to each other; and Fig. 3 is anenlarged detail showing the particular construction at the joint, whichconcerns my invention more particularly.

The jar or other receptacle 1 for fruit, liquids, or what not, may be ofany usual or preferred kind, being herein shown as having a neck 2,overhanging portion or annular shoulder 3, flange 4 for receiving apacking ring or gasket 5 on which rests a top 6, all in usual manner.Spanning the top is a wire retainer or bail 7 downwardly bent at itsends 8 and hooked at 9 into an eye 10 formed at the angle or corner-bendof a releasing and fastening lever 11 which passes around the neck 2 inthe usual manner.

Above the eye 10 the overhanging shoulder 3 is provided with an undercutnotch 12 opening downwardly at 13, see Fig. 3, and having its innersurface in substantially the same vertical plane as the adjacent surfaceof the neck 2, see Fig. 2, said notch having its overhanging edge curvedin a semi-circle. Fitting against this curved surface of the notch 12 isa spring loop 14 formed on the upper extremity of an upwardly extendingportion 15 from the eye 10, which forms the short end of the clampinglever 11.

At the middle of the fastening lever 11 the neck is provided with adepression 16 to receive the finger or thumb of the operator and therebyfacilitate the lifting of the le- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 14, 1908.

Patented Sept. 28, 1909. Serial No. 448,498.

ver 11, the latter preferably being deflected upwardly and forwardly ina curve as indicated at 17 to facilitate still further the liftingoperation. The retainer or bail 7 is held in place on the top 6 bysaddle-like grooves or holders formed by pairs of protuberances or smallprojections 18, one pair at each side of the top. By causing the bail toengage the top at the sides, 2'. c. loeating the holding projections orsaddle-like means which holds the bail directly over the rim or verticaledge of the cover, the pressure of the bail and the strain due to thespring action thereof are brought at the strongest and thickest portionof the top directly in vertical alinement with the rim or flange of thetop, so that thereby the top is much less liable to crack or break thanheretofore.

In use, the top is closed in clamped position by moving the parts to theposition shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and is released by swinging the leverll forwardly and upwardly on the parts 12, 14 as a pivot. By having thenotch 12 formed as shown in the under side of the shoulder 3 and open atits lower end, the short arm 15 of the clamping lever gets a straightupward thrust, and at the same time is permitted to have a large bearingsurface against the overhanging arched sides of the notch. Furthermore,I have found, in practice, that there is much less liability of the cansbreaking when this notch is provided than if a mere socket were drilledor molded transversely into the neck or wall of the can or jar. Also, itis much easier to form a notch in a large vessel, such for instance as afive-gallon glass ar, than any other form of cavity. Also by having thelarge loop 14 with its open end and yielding capability, I find that theclamping strain on the top is relieved which has heretofore caused unduebreakage of tops. hen the clamping lever 11 is moveddownwardly the openloop 14 cooperates with the remaining wire portion of the apparatus topro duce a yielding or springing action sufficient to prevent breakage.By locating the holding groove 0r saddle, formed by the two projections18, at the sides of the top, as distinguished from the old constructionin which they were located at the center, the liability of the topbreaking by the down ward pull or strain of the clamping lever is stillfurther minimized.

I make no claim to the general construction, nor to the general shapeand arrangement of the retaining wires, my invention residing in theopen notch opening at the under side of the shouldered neck, and thespring loop formed at the short end of the clamping lever to turnsmoothly and yieldingly in said open notch.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A jar closure, comprising a jar having at the opposite sides of itsneck overhanging shoulders provided with upwardly extending undercutarched notches open at their lower ends, a top, a bail spanning said topand having depending ends terminating below said notches, and a leverprovided at its ends with spring loops fitting said notches andpivotally connected to the ends of said bail below said loops.

2. A jar closure, comprising a ar having at the opposite sides of itsneck pivot notches, each notch being substantially semicircular, openingdownward, and formed in an overhanging shoulder projecting beyond thevertical surface of the jar neck below the notch, the under side of saidshoulder affording a smooth semi-circular bearing for the adjacentspring loop to slide freely upon;

a top, a bail spanning said top and having depending ends terminatingbelow said notches, and a lever extending across one side of the jarneck, pivotally connected to the depending ends of said bail, and havingits free ends beyond said pivotal connection ,with the bail formed intoupwardly extending loops curved to fit against the smooth semi-circularunde1.'surfaces of said overhanging shoulders, said loops having theirends open to permit the loops to spring when slid around on theirsemi-circular bearings into clamping position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELXVOOD PEARCE.

Vitnesses M. J. SPALDING, EDWARD IVIAXWELL.

